Elderflower Marmalade

USe the leftover fruit from your cordial and make this fragrant and delicious marmalade.

If you've already made a batch of my homemade elderflower cordial, don't throw away those lovely lemons and oranges! There's still plenty of goodness left in them, and they make a delicious homemade marmalade.

I love a recipe that makes use of something that would otherwise end up in the compost. Especially when the result is a jar of sweet, citrusy marmalade with a delicate hint of elderflower.

This easy elderflower marmalade recipe uses the leftover fruit from making cordial, along with a little extra orange peel, water and sugar. It's a lovely way to make the most of your elderflower harvest, and you'll have a few jars tucked away in the pantry or fridge to enjoy long after the flowers have finished blooming.

Spread it thickly on hot buttered toast, enjoy it with freshly baked scones, or pop a jar alongside a bottle of homemade elderflower cordial for a thoughtful gift.

Two recipes from one batch of fruit. Now that's my kind of cooking!

Use this sweet marmalade as a gift to accompany your elderflower cordial. Or simply smear on your own toast for a gorgeous sweet taste.

What do you need

What ingredients will I need;
Lemon and oranges that were used to make the elderflower cordial.
Sugar
Water

What Equipment will I need?
A large pot or jam pan
Clean sterilised jars with screw lids (you choose the size)

I like to keep glass jars with screw lids from products such as peanut butter and chutneys . They are perfect for repurposing or for making gifts. Otherwise just us any jam jar with a screw lid.

What to check for

How do I know when the marmalade is ready to bottle?
Once the sugar has dissolved bring to a rolling boil, and check for a jam consistency. Place the liquid on the saucer from the freezer. Run your finger through the middle of the marmalade puddle. If the liquid does not re-join - it is ready to place in sterilised jars. If it does join boil for another 2-3 minutes and try again.

How do I sterilise and fill the marmalade jars?
Simply wash your jars in clean soapy water and drain.
Preheat the oven to 160 degree Celsius. Place the bottles into the oven and heat for 15 minutes or until completely dry.
Carefully remove the jars one at a time and pour the hot marmalade into the jars.
Because you are pouring hot marmalade into hot clean jars the screw lids should seal. This will mean they can be stored for many months.

What do I do if the jars don't seal?
Simply eat that jar first. It also has enough sugar in it to preserve it for a few weeks without it spoiling.

Tips for Making Homemade Elderflower Marmalade

Don't throw away your leftover citrus fruit. Once you've strained your elderflower cordial, keep the lemons and oranges. They're the starting point for this marmalade, and it's a great way to make use of ingredients you've already paid for.

Take the time to prepare your orange peel. Thinly slicing the extra orange peel and boiling it separately helps soften it and remove some of the bitterness before adding it to the marmalade.

Don't skip the overnight rest. Allowing the fruit and peel mixture to rest overnight gives the ingredients time to soften and develop their flavour.

Remember the sugar ratio. My recipe uses one cup of sugar for every cup of prepared fruit mixture. Measure your mixture before adding the sugar so you get the proportions right.

Keep a saucer in the freezer. This is an easy way to check whether your marmalade has reached setting point. Place a small spoonful on the cold saucer, let it cool briefly, then run your finger through it. If the marmalade wrinkles slightly and doesn't immediately run back together, it's ready.

Make a little extra for gifting. Homemade marmalade makes a lovely gift, especially when paired with a bottle of elderflower cordial. Add a handwritten label and you've got a present that doesn't cost the earth.

Try these other recipes using elderflower

Elderflower cordial

Elderflower infused gin

Elderflower infused vodka